Improvement in fruit-gatherers



P. GOODWIN. FRUITYGATHERER.

Patented Nov. 10, 1857.

" Fig. 1. annular rim, 1), at two oppositepoints of which, and in line with the major; diameter of the A UNITED STATES FIRMAN eooowtn, or

ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

. IMPROVEMENT lb! FRUlT-GATHERERS..

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 18,582, dated November 10, 1857.

To all when it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, F. GooDWIN,-of Astoria, in theeounty of Queens and State of New York, have invented a'new'and Improved Im plement" or Device for Gathering Fruit and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had 'tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a'longitudinal section of myimprovement', taken in the line 00 m of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

This invention consists in providing a me tallic frame so formed as to serve the purpose ofa rim for a bag which receives the fruit, and also to serve as a means to detach the'fruit from the limbs. The frame is attached to a handle of proper length, and the whole is so arranged that the operator may gather or pluck the fruit very expeditiously and without injuring the same.

To enable those skilled in the art totally understand and construct myjnvention, 1 will proceed to describe it.

A represents theframe, which may be formed of cast metal. Cast-iron will probably be the material used. The frame is composed of a rim, a, of elliptical form, having a socket, B, at-one end to receive the end of apoleor staff, 0, which serves as the handle of the implement. The socket 'B is not in the-same plane as the frame A, but has an angular or oblique 1 position relatively with it, as shown clearly in Within the elliptical rim a, there is an rim a, there are projections c, which are connected with the rim a. Through each projection 0 there is a circular opening, at, and these openings communicate with the interior of the annular rim I) by means of passages 6; made in the projections. The form'of the frame is distinctly shown in Fi 0 It is quite alight casting, the two arms ab being of equalthickjections c c and openings d d, substantially and'for the purpose set forth.

ness, and theundcr side of the openings cl, at

their outer edges or parts, being inclined or beveled, as shown at f, so' as to form a sharp edge at their upper surfaces.

D is a bag formed of any suitable cloth or material. This bag is secured to the rim a,

and may be made of-any suitable depth .or

capacity. p v The implement is used as follows: The operator grasps the pole or staff O and elevates it, placing the frame A underneath the part g to be picked, (shown in red in Fig. 1,) the point passing through the rim 1), and the frame A is so moved that the stem by which the fruit is attached tothe limb willbe within either of the openings d. The operator then suddenly jerks the pole or stafi'eith-er toward or from him, according to which opening the stem'is in, and the fruit will be'plut-ked from the limb and will drop into the bag D.

Thisim'plenient is designed more especially for plucking or gathering apples; but it may be used for gathering other fruit, such as peaches, plums, and the like;

I would remark that the beveled or oblique sidesf of the openings at d may be faced with steel, if desired, to torm cutters to cut the stems; but this is not strictly essential, for the stems, by a'sli'ght shove "or pull of the imple- 1nent,.are easily detached from their limbs.

This improvement may be constructed at trifling expense, as the frame and socket are .cast in one piece and the cost ofthe handle and bag is quite small.

-Havin g thus described my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-;

The frame A, formed of the elliptical and annular rims a b and sockctB, the socket having an oblique p'osition'relatively with the frame, the outer, a,-having the bag D .attached, and the rim 1) provided with the proiFlRMAN GOODWlN. -Witnesses:

M1CH. HUGHES,

W-LTUSCH. 

